Dear Editor,
2021: Year to move beyond buzz words to start buzzing.
Now that the political directorate has had a holistic review of the state of affairs; recognized all the complementarities and synergies in play; identified all the skillsets to accomplish the tasks ahead and have the right fit for each complexity that will arise, we should be assured that Year 2021 will be buzzing with accomplishments and activities.
We should see the following addressed with alacrity:
● To professionally manage the urgent acquisition, storage and application of the Covid 19 vaccine in an effective and systematic way to safeguard the entire nation.
● To fortify and build our sea defences from Parika to Moleson Creek in a planned programme to prevent flooding from rising tides.
● Building state of the art primary health care hospitals in each of the ten regions with modern medical equipment and qualified medical staff so that we can relocate to any region without fear of not having proper medical attention.
● Improve the quality and delivery of our technical and vocational institutions in each county. Introduce more relevant craft courses that will be needed on the oil platforms and the hotel industries.
● Proper maintenance to the drainage and irrigation systems in each county done in a scientific manner to buttress the on the spot works initiated by the minister on his management by walking around.
● Potable and drinkable water from the tap available to each and every household in a systemic and phased manner.
● Upgrading the roads division in each county in the Ministry of Public Works with equipment and engineers to properly maintain and repairs
our public roadways.
● Increasing the national minimum wage to a livable amount and to restore
and honour collective bargaining with representative trade unions.
● Restructuring of the National Insurance Scheme to make it more accurate and people friendly.
● Passing of legislation to reform our electoral system as well as Gecom. Bringing up to date all laws that were made in antiquity in conformity with modern enlightenment.
● Devolution of more power to local government organs and holding them accountable to operate by the rule of law.
● Turn key housing projects in each county subsidized by Ministry of Housing for the poor and powerless so that they can live in dignity.
● Utilizing the natural gas to generate cheap and reliable power necessary for making the lives of citizens less stressful and for it to be the spring board to modernity.
● Promotion of our cultural and ethnic diversity through song, dance, plays, nursery readers, art, village festivals, gymkhana and sports in order to foster tolerance and eradication of stereotypes among our peoples.
● Zero tolerance of corruption in public office with fair recruitment practices and equality in governance.
These are some of the things that should be buzzing in 2021.
Yours faithfully,
Reggie Bhagwandin
